Christ Church Centre
June update
The project team, chaired by Chris, meets about every three weeks and, although we have a very full agenda, we do feel that God is guiding us as we seek to bring his plans to fruition. Please continue to hold the project in prayer and particularly at this time we are focussing on:-
• Completion of the Business Plan which will be sent to Trusts and Grant Giving bodies by the middle of June as we seek financial support for our building.
• The plans which have been submitted to Brentwood Borough Council; pray that the approval process will go through smoothly.
• The detailed drawings and specification being worked on by our architect and quantity surveyor and which will be sent to contractors to tender for the project. This is a substantial piece of work which should be completed by the end of July.
• The design of the kitchen and Caroline will be visiting other church or similar kitchens in the area; please speak with her if you would like to be involved.
• The possibility that The Christ Church Centre could house a pre-school play group; this idea is only at the initial research stage but Chris would welcome your views.
Please do continue to pray that God will make the balance of the money needed available and that everyone will be ready to play their part in The Christ Church Centre.
Philip Smith
And finally…….
Have you got an artistic streak?
We are looking for a logo for our new Christ Church Centre
The final design can be created from your idea by professionals, so please submit your sketches, with your details on the back, to the vicar
Thank you
April update
We are now coming to terms with the wonderful financial response to the appeal for the building of The Christ Church Centre. More than £151,000 has been given or pledged by the congregation of Christ Church, which together with the generous donation from the Boys' Brigade and the money available from our reserves, makes the total amount raised to date alomost £300,000.
Tempting as it is to want the building work to begin in July, which is the final date to achieve completion before Christmas, there is considerable time-consuming preparation work to be undertaken and approvals to be obtained before a building contract can be entered into.
The Senior Historic Buildings Advisor from the Essex County Council has visited the church building and we are presently discussing one or two changes to the plans that will make planning approval easier to obtain. We expect to be in a position to make formal applications in the next few weeks both to Brentwood Borough Council and The Chelmsford Diocese; you may remember that representatives from the Diocese visitied Christ Church last October and they were supportive of our proposals. Once these approvals are obtained an application must be made to the Chancellor of the Diocese for a legal Faculty to proceed with the work. Our architect must also produce a detailed document that can be sent to potential contractors so that they can submit a tender price for the project.
We are moving forward as quickly as possible and ask for your prayers that this phase of the work will go ahead smoothly and not encounter distractions and delays and that the remainder of the necessary finance will be forthcoming. Our objective is to commence building work as soon as possible after Christmas this year.
Philip Smith
Important notices
Love God and love your neighbour as yourself
As you may have already heard, there has been an extraordinary response to our prayers for the Christ Church Centre. More than £151,000 has been pledged or donated by the congregation of Christ Church.
We give thanks to our Father in heaven for these abundant gifts. Many people have been willing to make real sacrifices in order to support this project. The vision of what we can do together in mission to share the love of Jesus Christ in our community has captured imaginations and hearts.
These monies are in addition to the £150,000 already available from the Boy's Brigade and our reserves, so we are well on the way to achieving our target. We shall now approach specialist trusts and charities and ask them to add to what has already been given. I am confident that the Christ Church Centre will be built and that a new chapter in the history of Christ Church will be opened in our generation. Having witnessed God's blessing I am even more excited at what He shall do among us.
Let me offer my heartfelt thanks to all of you who have already contributed. If you have not yet taken the opportunity to make a pledge or donation, there is still time to do so. May we all be inspired by the generosity of others. Please continue to pray that God will provide the full measure of resources needed and that the Centre will become a living demonstation of God's love in Warley.
Rev Chris Goldsmith
Background
At its meeting on the 13th September 2007, the Church Council voted to proceed with a project to create a new entrance area and gathering space, build a new kitchen on the front of the existing hall and refurbish the existing toilets.
We are now embarking on the process of obtaining the necessary approvals from the Diocese and the local planning authorities. Representatives from the Diocesan Advisory Committee, a group of architects and engineers, visited Christ Church on the 24th October to inspect the proposed design.
This project is exciting and we feel sure that it is God's calling to Christ Church. However it will entail considerable expense. If we are able to proceed within the next 12 months, the total cost will be £340,000. If the project is deferred clearly the costs will increase. We have already been promised or have identified £150,000 towards the cost and so we will still need to raise around £190,000.
We are currently looking to identify external bodies who might be able to contribute, and we will be contacting them early next year. However they will only consider contributing once the level of our financial commitment is clear. We are planning a period during which church members will be encouraged to make financial commitments or pledges. This is likely to be towards the end of January / beginning of February. This will be preceded by several weeks when we will be praying about what each of us is prepared to commit towards the cost of the project.
Between now and then there are several areas in which we can all help. Firstly, if you have any interesting ideas that would help to raise funds please let us know. Secondly, we would be interested in hearing of any organisation that you think might be prepared to support us. Thirdly, if you are keen to help in any way, please let us know. Many thanks to the Guides who have provided some lovely home made Christmas and other cards for us to sell.
Finally and most importantly, please pray for God's guidance in the very practical work that is now in progress and for each of us that we may see how God is calling us to support this part of His ministry here in Warley.
Jes Salt and Philip Smith